Gatland the right man for Lions job - Greenwood

Will Greenwood has backed the anticipated appointment of Warren Gatland as British and Irish Lions coach for next year's series against world champions New Zealand.

The Lions will name their coach for the tour on Wednesday, with Wales boss Gatland widely expected to be selected as the man to lead the team against his home country.

Gatland was one of Ian McGeechan's assistants on the 2009 tour of South Africa, where the Lions lost the series 2-1, before taking the helm to oversee a 2-1 triumph over Australia in 2013.

The Lions face a huge challenge to claim a first series win over the All Blacks since 1971, and Greenwood - who played in the 3-0 whitewash at the hands of New Zealand in 2005 - believes Gatland is the ideal coach for the job.

"The argument with New Zealand is are they the greatest sporting franchise of the last 100 years?" Greenwood told Sky Sports News.

"They are so good at rebuilding, evolving and creating new sides... so this challenge is huge and I think Warren deserves this opportunity.

"He has the courage of his convictions and knows everything there is to know about New Zealand rugby.

"Critics may say he does not have a great record against the southern hemisphere but I suspect on the back of his previous two performances, and with the Lions looking to have as much stability as possible, to have someone of his experience at the helm will be crucial if they are to have any chance in the toughest place on the planet to play rugby."